New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney under investigation for soliciting invitation to Met Gala

Nicholas Wu posted on Twitter, "NEW - Office of Congressional Ethics report just released by House Ethics finds Rep. Carolyn Maloney 'may have solicited or accepted impermissible gifts associated with her attendance at the Met Gala.' If she did so this could violate House rules, standards of conduct & the law."

Tickets to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual fundraising bash begin at $30,000, while tables go for in excess of $200,000.

According to Politico, the board of the Office of Congressional Ethics said, "If Rep. Maloney solicited or accepted impermissible gifts, then she may have violated House rules, standards of conduct and federal law."

The report states that in 2016 Maloney reached out to former Met president Emily Rafferty and asked for a ticket to the event. Rafferty obliged, Maloney attended and became a "longtime attendee of the Met Gala" afterwards. The report also states that she may have solicited an invite to the 2020 gala as well.

Elected officials can only attend fundraising events for third parties if their invitations are unsolicited.

Emily Brooks highlighted one notable exchange between Maloney and investigators: "Office of Congressional Ethics: 'I think if I was invited to the Met Gala, I think I'd remember.' Maloney: 'I don't think you would. At least I wouldn't.'"

An attorney for Maloney said her attendance "was appropriate and complied with all applicable House gift rules, laws, and regulations. In addition, Chairwoman Maloney did not impermissibly solicit an invitation to these events."

Maloney attended last year's Met gala. In a photo posted by Ian Miles Cheong, a caped Maloney can be seen smiling for the camera while Met staff stand against the wall wearing black dresses and black face masks. "Equal rights for women" was emblazoned on the cape.

New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also attended and wore a dress emblazoned with the words "tax the rich." She mingled with those wealthy people while the attendants wore face masks.

Mahoney's 30-year history in Congress ended this year as she lost to Jerry Nadler for the sole remaining House seat after redistricting in New York.